Wire coiling machine



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

T. E. LEWIS, JR

Tfiomas E. Lem 41s, J

WIRE COILING MACHINE Oct. 25, 1960 Filed Feb. 24, 1958 A T TOR/V511) Oct. 25, 1960 'r. E. LEWIS, JR- 2,957,640

WIRE COILING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1958 5 She ets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR T/ramas E L max v Oct. 25, 1960 T, E LEWIS, JR 2,957,640

' WIRE CQILING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24. 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN'TOR. Tim/mo" E .Z. ewz 0', r:

ATTORNEYS- Oct. 25, 1960 'r. E. LEWIS, JR 2,957,640

WIRE COILING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1 958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIYVENTOR. 7 /70/7203 E Len/as, \fr' ATTOBNEYJ Patented Oct; 25, 1960 WIRE COILING MACHINE Thomas Lewis, Jr., Trumbull, Coma, assignor to The 'Coulter & McKenzie Machine -'Co., Inc., Bridgeport, COIIIL, a corporation of Connecticut Filed Feb. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 717,097

17 Claims. (Cl. 242-83) This invention relates to improvements in wire coiling or packaging machines which form wire into continuous coils and deposit the coils into an upstanding drum-shaped receiving container from which the wire is again paid out at the point of use.

'Heretofore, the coil-forming rotary head or coil-forming capstan and a drum or container have been driven together as the receiving drum receives the coils as the wire coils are delivered by the capstan. Accordingly the rotation of thismachine must be stopped when a container thereon has received its quota of wire deposited therein, and the wire must then be cut whereupon the full drum is removed from the machine in order that a succeeding empty drum maybe substituted and the machine be re started to repeat the drum filling operation. Down-time is lost by the stopping and restarting of the machine.

The present invention provides an improved machine which is simple and effective with respect to the drive mechanism, is highly compact in that a minimum of floor space is required, and is economical in use in that the down-time of the machine is minimized or eliminated during the change-over of the receiving drums.

it is an object of the invention to accomplish the foregoing by providing a coil-forming capstan inverted over and in line with a rotary supporting means or turntable carrying the drum and by moving the drum into and out of direct driving relation with the capstan such that its rotation can be stopped while the inverted coil-forming capstan is kept running. Further, it is an object of the invention to provide means to temporarily store the continued production of coiled wire during the time that the change-over of the receiving drum is taking place.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel drum drive including an upper clutch member rotating with the coil-forming head and a lower companion" clutch member carried by the drum at the top end portion thereof, with the turntable having means for relatively shifting the drum, with respect to the coil-forming capstan, so as to move the clutch members into'and out of driving engagement with each other, with the coil-forming capstan driving the drum when so engaged;

One feature of the novel drum drive mechanism is the novel lower clutch portion which can be attached and detached from the drum as desired.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a simple and effective rapid cutting mechanism for cutting the IiflOiF ing wire without impeding the continued supply of fresh wire to be held on the rotary capstan during the interimof the change-over of the drums. I

It is further an object of the invention to provide a temporary storage means for the coils of wire which continue to be formed during the change-over of drums and which includes a suitable and simple interceptor mechanism associated with the coil-forming capstan and controllable by a simple mechanism to accumulate and retain a quanti-ty of the coiled wire after the" wire has been cut. Preferably, the wire is set into coils upon an upper initial sec tion of the coil-forming capstan and then temporarily stored upon a final or lower section of the coil-forming capstan with the cutting device interposed and operable to cut the wire in transit from the upper to the lower section of the capstan, thus maintaining the operation thereof after the wire has been cut.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings, illustrating one form of the invention, wherein like characters represent like parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic side view of the machine showing the rotation transmitting clutch device of this invention in disengaged position with respect to the receiving drum;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the top View of the coil-forming capstan;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing in detail the coil-forming capstan, its drive mechanism and associated devices such as the wire cutting mechanism and the coil intercepting mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the machi'n'e taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing the turntable structure with receiving drum and hydraulic clutching mechanism therefor;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional detailed view, similar to Fig. 2, but having parts broken away to illustrate more clearly the actuating cam means for the coil inter: ceptor mechanism;

Fig. 6'is enlarged detail view of the wire cutting mechanism indicated in Fig. 1 and partially visible in Fig. 7 a fragmentary view of the mechanism ll sg tra'ted in' Fig. 6 and shows a subsequent operati'ngposition" thereof; and

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 88of Fig; 6.

Broadly, the invention is a wire coiling machinejiie cludin'ga' rotatable capstan, for receivingwire from a f ed deviceand coiling the same, and a rotatable drum remov ably engageable in driving relation withthe capstan; re receiving and storing wire therefrom. Additionally, invention includm a novel cutting device, whereby a wire coil passing from the capstan to the drum may be cut to? facilitate removal of a full drum, and an accumulator d vice, whereby wire which is coiled during the change-over of drums may be temporarilystored.

Refeiiilig" now to the drawings, in Fig. 1 a machine is generally indicated by the numeral 10. The machine basically comprises an upstanding frame si'stiii'g or a post or column 11 and an overhanging headi portion 12, the head portion being adapted to carry an in-" verted coil-forming rotatable capstan 1 3 and driving means therefor. Also mounted on head is a wire guiding means 14, which may be a drawing die or similar device, and is adapted to feed incoming wire W to ate upper portion of the inverted capstan 1 3 where it is en? gag ed by a pressure roller device 15 for applying a cast" 1 to the wire and maintaining the coils C formed" thereby iii feeding relation with the capstan. g I V v v A container or drum D is mounted belowcapstan 13, in

axial alignment therewith, on a turntable 16 for r'o-tatio'ri'v as the wire coils from the capstan are fed therein. Tliel drum, which is formed with a cylindrical core arou' d which the coils of wire are dropped, is, during the filling operation, in driving relation with inverted capstan 13:. I

In the operation of the wire coiling machine 10, wire.

filled it is disengaged from driving engagement with the capstan and removed from turntable 16. A new drum is then mounted on the turntable for continued operation.

Referring now to Figs. 2-4, a more detailed description of the inverted coil-forming capstan 13, the drum D and the driving means therebetween is given. The capstan includes a substantially cylindrical body 17 of sturdy material, which may be formed by casting or in any other manner known to the art, and is provided on its outer surface with a circumferential rib 1S dividing the outer surface of the body into upper and lower portions 19 and 20 respectively. Inwardly of body 17, a collar 21, adapted to seat an elongated hollow shaft 22, is supported by means of radial webs 23. The shaft 22, which is connected through a suitable gear train 24, of any type well known in the art, to a motor or similar source of power 25, mounted in head 12, is secured against radial displacement with respect to collar 21 by means of key 26 and against axial displacement therewith by means of the lock nut 27, which engages the end of the shaft and abuts the collar. The shaft 22 is retained in aligned rotational position by means of suitable bearings 28 in collar 29, depending from bottom wall 30 of frame head 12. In order to circulate the air within body 17, for cooling, fins 31 may be formed radially inwardly therefrom, if desired. The capstan 13, as described, is rotated by means of motor 25, through gear train 24 and hollow shaft 22, which is secured against rotation therewith, to body 17.

The drum D, which is best illustrated in Fig. 4, comprises an outer cylindrical casing member 32 having one end thereof closed by a bottom wall 33. A cylindrical core 34 is supported on and/or secured to the bottom wall, concentric with casing member 32, such that between them is provided a wire receiving chamber 35. The components of the drum, including the casing, bottom wall and core, may be formed of fiber board, sheet metal or in any other manner known to the container art.

Directing our attention now to the engageable and disengageable driving means between capstan 13 and drum D, it will be noted that body 17, of the capstan, is provided, at its lower end, with an inwardly extending annular flange 36, which in turn is formed with an integral depending, substantially conical flange 37. The conical flange 37, which will hereinafter be referred to as the driving clutch member, may, if desired, be provided on its outer surface with a friction lining, as at 38, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. Drum D is equipped with a driven clutch member. While this may be formed integrally with the drum, it is herein illustrated as being a removable driven clutch member 39, which may conveniently be in the form of a reinforced cylinder 40 adapted to telescopically mate with core 34 of the drum. The cylinder 40, which has its lower end closed by a wall 41, is provided at its upper end with an inwardly extending cooperative conical seat 42, adapted to frictionally engage the driving clutch member 37 on capstan 13. In the illustrated form of the invention, the bottom wall 41, of the driven clutch member 39, is roughened or otherwise treated as at 43, to enhance the frictional engagement between the member and the bottom wall of the core 34.

In order to move the driven clutch member 39, of drum D, into engagement with the driving clutch member 37, of the capstan, the turntable 16, on which the drum is mounted, is connected to a hydraulic jack, generally indicated by the numeral 44. The turntable is rotatably secured to an extension 45, of the jack plunger 46, through suitable bearings and supports 47 and is movable toward and away from the capstan 13 as fluid entering and leaving jack cylinder 48, through conduits 49 and 50, reciprocates the plunger. The hydraulic jack may be actuated by any means known to the art (not shown) for engaging and disengaging the clutch members.

If desired, the turntable 16 can be provided with a flange or band 16 (Fig. 4) to overlie the bottom edge of the drum and maintain it in position on the turntable and yet permit it to be readily removed therefrom when the drum is full and it is desired to replace the drum.

In the operation of the wire coiling machine, above described, wire W is fed to the upper portion 19 of the capstan, which is being rotated by motor 25, from guide means 14, at which point it is cast in coils C, by means of pressure roller 15. After the wire has passed around portion 19 in a number of coils, it is directed over rib 18 to the lower portion 20 of the capstan from whence the coils pass into drum D for storage. The drum is in its uppermost position during the coiling and storing operation, such that the driving clutch member 37 on the capstan and the driven clutch member 39 on the drum are engaged to rotate the capstan and drum synchronously. It should here be noted that slippage between the clutch members is substantially eliminated by the friction lining 38 on the surface of the driving clutch mem' her.

After drum D has been filled and the hydraulic jack 44 is actuated to lower the drum and disengage the clutch members 37 and 39 (shown in dotted and solid lines in Fig. 3), the filled drum is removed from turntable 16 and a new drum, with a driven clutch member mounted therein, is positioned in its place. The hydraulic jack 44 is again actuated, this time to raise the drum into driving engagement with the capstan, and the coiling and storing operation is repeated. It should here be pointed out, that the driven clutch member 39 may be removed from the filled drum of wire and placed in the new drum, thereby decreasing costs and facilitating the operation of the process.

In order to facilitate the removal of the drum, the present invention provides a means for automatically cutting the wire. If desired, a wire cutting device 51 for severing the wire can be mounted on the head portion 12 of the frame and located adjacent the rib 18 such that the wire passes therethrough as it moves from the upper cylindrical portion 19 to the lower cylindrical portion 20 of the capstan body 13. As shown in Figs. 6 to 8 the cutting device comprises a disk 52, adapted to rotate about a center pivot 53, and having a series of cutting apertures 54 located concentrically around the pivot. The edge of the disk is notched, as at 55, and a spring detent 56 is mounted in the block 57, carrying the disk, and is adapted to cooperate with a series of notches or recesses 58, formed in the disk, to hold the cutting disk in one of its adjusted positions. The wire is fed from the upper portion 19 of capstan 13 to a guide tube 59, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, through an aperture 54 in the plate, aligned with the guide tube, and hence to the lower portion 20 and the drum D.

To operate the cutting device 51, a solenoid 60, shown in Fig. 3, is connected to a slide 61 having a spring pressed pawl 62 at its lower end, such that when the solenoid is energized the pawl moves upwardly, as shown in solid and dotted lines in Fig. 7, and steps the cutter plate 52 one step. This cutter plate or disk 52, cooperating with the edges of a fixed cutter blade 63, will sever the wire. As the wire is continuously fed by the rotation of the capstan 13, the free end thereof will engage the back of the plate 52 until the next aperture 54 is aligned with the tube 59; this builds up a slight tension in the wire which forces the wire through the aperture as soon as it becomes aligned with the tube. The cast in the wire will cause it to continue to wind around the lower portion 20 of the capstan after it has passed through the aperture in the cutter device 51.

In order to permit the severed wire and the container therefor to be removed from the turntable 16 after it has been lowered out of driving engagement with the capstan and without stopping the capstan, the present invention provides the capstan with accumulator fingers 64 which are slidably mounted in the capstan as shown in seer-364a Figs. 3 and 5. The fingers, which are normally urged inwardly and are commonly projected only at the time it is desired to accumulate wire ther'eon', during the drum removal operation, are slidably mounted in lugs 65 formed in the lower end portion of the body '17 of the capstan. The radial or extending movement of the fingers 64 is controlled by a rotatable cam disk- 66, which is provided with cam tracks in the form of curved slots 67 (see Figs. 2 and 5), engaged by cam followers 67' carried on the under side ofthe inner ends of each of the accumulator fingers. The disk is axially confined in a peripherally enclosing groove 68 formed by an annular recess 69, in the lower end of body 17 of the capstan and by a closure ring" 70 interposed between the body 17 and'the aforementioned driving clutch'member 37. Compressible retaining pins 64' may, ifdesired, be provided in the extremities offingers 64, to maintain the wire coils in position thereon, when the fingers are in extended position.

A quill shaft 71, which has its lower end secured centrally of the disk 66 by retaining means such as a. lock nut 72 and is maintained against rotation with respect to the disk by means of a key 73 engaging a' hub 74 formed on thedisk, extends upwardly through hollow shaft 22 in the capstan to a slip clutch or drag device 75 mounted in head 12 of the frame. The drag device 75 is operable and controllable in such a manner as to apply, when desired, a drag or braking effect on the quill shaft 71 during the rotation of the capstan, to the extent of overcoming the bias of the springs 77 and thereby to rotate the disk 66in the direction of arrow A thereby causing the fingers 64' to extendinto accumulating position.

The cam disk is capable of limited rotational move ment as between end positions defined by the length of the cam tracks 67. Rotation of the disk relative to the surrounding cylindrical body 17 of the capstan in the" direction of arrow A will cause the fingers 64 to be extended radially outwardly to coil intercepting or ac cum'ulatingposition, whereas rotation of the disk in the opposite direction, arrow A will effect retraction of the fingers when the accumulation of wire coils, indicated at 76 is to be released from the lower portion 20 of the capstan into a new drum D.

The cam disk 66 is normally biased in the direction of arrow A relative to the surrounding rotary body 17, by means of a set of tension springs 77'(see Figs. 3 and 5), which through the cam action of the disk normally maintain the' actuator fingers in retracted position while causing the disk to rotate with the capstan. The springs" 77 may be secured by any suitable means to the disk and the driving clutch member 37, as here illustrated, by bolts 78 and 79 respectively.

The accumulator' d'evice, above described, may, in addition to being utilized to support the coils of'wire' con-'- tinuing to issuefrom the capstan during the change over of drums, be adapted to segregate the wire into'bundles" of a desired size for drum storage or other disposition. It is noted, that if the machine is to be generally utilized for bundling, it may be desirable to have accumulator fingers 64 normally in extended position, to be retracted on actuation of drag device 75. This may conveniently be achieved by turning cam disk 66 over, such that springs 77" bias the disk to extend the fingers.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the in vention as aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, nu-' merous changes in structure may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim: 7

1. A wire coiling machine comprising aframe, an in verted rotatable coil-forming capstan mounted on said frame, means for feeding wire to said capstan, means for continuously rotating said capstan such that said wire is formed into continuouscoils,-rotatable support means "ertiealgcbaxtal alignment with said capstan for ing a wife receiving drum, means for directing said wife coils from-said capstan into said drum, means for rotafingsaid capstan and said rotatably supported drum in s'ynchroriisfn, means for relatively shifting said cap stain and saiddrum to move the same into and out of driving engagement, said' capstan directly driving" said dr'nm when so engaged, and means for accumulating the wire coils whichconti'nue to issue from said capstan-when said drum and capstan are disengaged.

2. A wire coilingrr'iachine comprising a frame, an iriverted rotatable coil-forming capstan mounted on said frame, means for feeding wire to sa'id'capstan, means for continuously rotatin'gsaid capstan such that said wire is formed into continuous coils, rotatable support means in vertical coaxial alignment with said capstan for supporting awire' receiving drum, means for directing said wire coils from said capstaninto said drum, means for rotating said capstan and saidrotatably supported drum in synchronism, said means for rotating said capstan and said drum in synchronism including a driving clutch member forming part of said capstan and a driven clutch member operably connected to said drum for engagement and disengagement with said driving clutch member, means for relatively shifting said capstan and said drum to" move the same into and out of drivingengagement, said capstan driving said drum when so engaged, and means for accumulating'the wire coils which continue to' issue fromsa'id capstan'when said drum and capstan are disengaged. y

3; A wire' coi'lingi machine as in claim 2, wherein said driving clutch member comprises an annular substan tiaflly cone-shaped extension of said capstan and said driven clutch member comprises a body removablyre tained within said'd'rum for rotation therewith, saidbody beingxforined'with' an annular c'onicalseat adjacent one end for frictiona'lly engaging and disengaging said driving clutch merriber' when s'aid capstan and drum are shifted relative to" one another.

4';-Awire"coiling machi'ne comprising a frame, an inverted rotatab le coil-forming: capstan mounted on said frame means for feeding wireto said capstan, means for rotating said'capstan suchthat said wire' is formed into continuous coils; rotatable support means in vertical coaxial alignment with said capstan for supporting a wire' receivingfirumi means for directing said wire coils from" said capstan" into'said drum, means for rotating said capstan and-'said'rotatably supported drum in synchronism,-"and "a hydraulic jack connected to said rotatable support means fo'r'relatively shifting said'capstan and said dril'in' to-move' the samein'toand out of driving engage merit; said'capstamdriving said'drum when' so engaged:

5. A wire coiling machine comprising a frame, an in= verted rotatable' coil fomiing capstan mounted-"on said frame; means for feeding'wire to said capstan, means for rotatingsaid'capstan such that said wire is formedinto continuous coils; a' turntable in vertical coaxial alignmentiwith said' capstan for supporting a wire receiving dfum'," meansfor directing said wire'coils from said capstan 'in'to 'said'drilrn, means'for rotating said capstanan'd said rotatablysupported drum 'insynchronism, said means for'rotating saidcapstan'and said drum in synchronism includiug.'a*driving. clutch member forming part of said oapstanand adri'ven clutch memberoperably connected to'said drum =for engagement and disengagement therewith,.' and a hydraulic jack' connected to said' turntable for relatively shifting said capstan and said drum to move the same into and out of driving engagement, said capstan driving said drum when so engaged.

6; Awire coilin'gmachine comprising a frame, an inverted rotatable coil-forming capstan mounted on said frame, m'eans'for feeding wire to said capstan, means for continuously rotating' said capstan such that said wire is formed-into'continuous coils, rotatable support means in vertial coaxial alignment with said capstan'for supporting a wire receiving drum, means for directing said wire coils from said capstan into said drum, means for rotating said capstan and said rotatably supported drum in synchronism, means for relatively shifting said capstan and said drum to move the same into and out of driving engagement, said capstan driving said drum when so engaged, means for cutting the wire when said capstan and drum are disengaged from driving relation to facilitate the removal of the wire filled drum from said rotatable support, and means for accumulating the wire coils which continue to issue from said capstan when said drum and capstan are disengaged.

7; A wire coiling machine comprising a frame, an inverted rotatable coil-forming capstan mounted on said frame, means for feeding wire to said capstan, means for continuously rotating said capstan such that said wire is formed into continuous coils, rotatable support means in vertical coaxial alignment with said capstan for supporting a wire receiving drum, means for directing said wire coils from said capstan into said drum, cutting means adjacent said capstan for the substantially continuous passage of wire therethrough in the direction of said drum, means for rotating said capstan and said rotatably supported drum in synchronism, means for relatively shifting said capstan and said drum to move the same into and out of driving engagement, said capstan driving said drum when so engaged, said cutting means being adapted to sever said wire when said drum is disengaged from driving relation with said capstan to facilitate the removal of said drum from said support, and means for accumulating the wire coils which continue to issue from said capstan when said drum and capstan are disengaged.

8. A wire coiling machine comprising a frame, an inverted rotatable coil-forming capstan mounted on said frame, means for feeding wire to said capstan, means for continuously rotating said capstan such that said wire is formed into continuous coils, rotatable support means in Vertical coaxial alignment with said capstan for supporting a wire receiving drum, means for directing said wire coils from said capstan into said drum, means for rotating said capstan and said rotatably supported drum in synchronism, means for relatively shifting said capstan and said drum to move the same into and out of driving engagement, said capstan driving said drum when so engaged, means for cutting said wire when said drum and capstan are disengaged; said means including a rotatable disk formed with wire receiving apertures adjacent said capstan and a driving means for rotating said disk such that said wire is severed at one of said apertures and wire coming from said capstan is aligned with another aperture, and means for accumulating the wire coils which continue to issue from said capstan when said drum and capstan are disengaged.

9. A wire coiling machine comprising a frame, an inverted rotatable coil-forming capstan mounted on said frame, means for feeding wire to said capstan, means for rotating said capstan such that said wire is formed into continuous coils, rotatable support means in vertical coaxial alignment with said capstan for supporting a wire receiving drum, means for directing said wire coils from :said capstan into said drum, means for rotating said capstan and said rotatably supported drum in synchronism, means for relatively shifting said capstan and said drum to move the same into and out of driving engagement,

said capstan driving said drum when so engaged, means for severing said wire between said capstan and said drum to facilitate removal of said drum from said rotatable support, and means for accumulating the wire coils which continue to issue from said rotating capstan when said drum is disengaged from driving relation therewith.

10. A wire coiling machine comprising a frame, an inverted rotatable coil-forming capstan mounted on said frame, means for feeding wire to said capstan, means for rotating said capstan such that said wire is formed into continuous coils, rotatable support means in vertical coaxial alignment with said capstan for supporting a wire receiving drum, means for directing said wire coils from said capstan into said drum, means for rotating said capstan and said rotatably supported drum in synchronism, means for relatively shifting said capstan and said drum to move the same into and out of driving engagement, said capstan driving said drum when so engaged, means for severing said wire between said capstan and said drum to facilitate removal of the same from said rotatable support, and accumulator fingers slidably mounted within said capstan for projection and retraction with respect thereto, said fingers being projected to accumulate the wire coils which continue to issue from said rotating capstan when said drum is disengaged from driving relation therewith and being retracted to release said coils from accumulated position.

11. In a wire coiling machine including a frame, an inverted rotatable coil-forming capstan mounted thereon, means for feeding wire to said capstan, means for continuously rotating said capstan such that said wire is formed into continuous coils, rotatable support means in vertical coaxial alignment with said capstan for supporting a wire receiving drum; the improvement in wire coiling machines comprising means for rotating said capstan and said drum in synchronism, said capstan driving said drum; means for relatively shifting said capstan and said drum to move the same into and out of driving engagement; and means for accumulating the wire coils which continue to issue from said capstan when said drum and capstan are disengaged.

12. In a wire coiling machine including a frame, an inverted rotatable coil-forming capstan mounted thereon, means for feeding wire to said capstan, means for continuously rotating said capstan such that said wire is formed into continuous coils, rotatable support means in vertical coaxial alignment with said capstan for supporting a wire receiving drum; the improvement in wire coiling machines comprising a driving clutch member forming part of said capstan, a driven clutch member operatively connected to said drum, said clutch members cooperating to rotate said capstan and drum in synchronism, said capstan driving said drum; means for relatively shifting said capstan and said drum to move the same into and out of driving engagement; and means for accumulating the wire coils which continue to issue from said capstan when said drum and capstan are disengaged.

13. In a wire coiling machine including a frame, an inverted rotatable coil-forming capstan mounted thereon, means for feeding Wire to said capstan, means for rotating said capstan such that said wire is formed into continuous coils, rotatable support means in vertical coaxial alignment with said capstan for supporting a wire receiving drum; the improvement in wire coiling machines comprising a driving clutch member forming part of said capstan, a driven clutch member operatively connected to said drum, said clutch members cooperating to rotate said capstan and said drum in synchronism, said capstan driving said drum; and a hydraulic jack connected to said rotatable support for relatively shifting said capstan and said drum to move the same into and out of driving engagement.

14. In a wire coiling machine including a frame, an inverted rotatable coil-forming capstan mounted thereon, means for feeding wire to said capstan, means for continuously rotating said capstan such that said wire is formed into continuous coils, rotatable support means in vertical coaxial alignment with said capstan for supporting a wire receiving drum, means for directing said wire coils from said capstan into said drum; the improvement in wire coiling machines comprising means for rotating said capstan and said drum in synchronism, said capstan driving said drum; means for relatively shifting said capstan and said drum to move the same into and out of driraing engagement; means for cutting said wire between said capstan and said drum when the latter is disengaged from driving relation with the former to facilitate the removal of the loaded drum; and means for accumulating the wire coils which continue to issue from said capstan when said drum and capstan are disengaged.

15. In a wire coiling machine including a frame, an inverted rotatable coil-forming capstan mounted thereon, means for feeding wire to said capstan, means for continuously rotating said capstan such that said wire is formed into continuous coils, rotatable support means in vertical coaxial alignment with said capstan for supporting a wire receiving drum, means for directing said wire coils from said capstan into said drum; the improvement in wire coiling machines comprising means for rotating said capstan and said drum in synchronism, said capstan driving said drum; means for relatively shifting said capstan and said drum to move the same into and out of driving engagement; means for cutting the wire between said capstan and drum when the latter is disengaged from driving relation with the former, said cutting means including a rotatable disk formed with wire receiving and cutting apertures mounted adjacent said capstan and an actuating means operably connected to said disk for rotating the same such that the wire extending through one of said apertures is severed and the wire following thereafter is aligned with and threaded through another of said apertures; and means for accumulating the wire coils which continue to issue from said capstan when said drum and capstan are disengaged.

16. In a wire coiling machine including a frame, an inverted rotatable coil-forming capstan mounted thereon, means for feeding wire to said capstan, means for rotating said capstan such that said wire is formed into continuous coils, rotatable support means in vertical coaxial alignment with said capstan for supporting a wire receiving drum, means for directing said wire coils from said capstan into said drum; the improvement in wire coiling machines comprising means for rotating said capstan and said drum in synchronism, said capstan driving said drum; means for relatively shifting said cap stan and said drum to move the same into and out of driving engagement; means for cutting said wire between said capstan and said drum when the latter is disengaged from driving relation with the former; and accumulator means between said capstan and said drum for supporting the wire coils which continue to issue from said rotating capstan when said drum is disengaged therefrom.

17. In a wire coiling machine including a frame, an inverted rotatable coil-forming capstan mounted thereon, means for feeding wire to said capstan, means for rotating said capstan such that said wire is formed into continuous coils, rotatable support means in vertical coaxial alignment with said capstan for supporting a wire receiving drum, means for directing said wire coils from said capstan into said drum; the improvement in wire coiling machines comprising means for rotating said capstan and said drum in synchronism, said capstan driving said drum; means for relatively shifting said capstan and said drum to move the same into and out of driving engagement; means for cutting said wire between said capstan and said drum when the latter is disengaged from driving relation with the former; and accumulator fingers slidably mounted in said capstan for projection and retraction with respect thereto, said fingers being projected to accumulate the wire coils which continue to issue from said rotating capstan when said drum is disengaged from driving relation therewith and being retracted to release said coils from accumulated position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 636,242 Cromwell Nov. 7, 1899 804,321 Hoxie Nov. 14, 1905 936,610 Daniels Oct. 12, 1909 1,831,447 Heinrich Nov. 10, 1931 2,149,851 Mac Leod Mar. 7, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 744,918 Great Britain Feb. 15, 1956 

